U.S. patent application number 11/545592 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-17 for media delivery utilizing intelligent group list management.
This patent application is currently assigned to Cingular Wireless II, LLC. Invention is credited to Andre Gen Okada, Scott Allen Swanburg, Chris Allen Young.
Application Number | 20080091804 11/545592 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39326066 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080091804 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Swanburg; Scott Allen ; et
al. |
April 17, 2008 |
Media delivery utilizing intelligent group list management
Abstract
A system for delivering content from one user to a plurality of
other users across a network is disclosed. A user transmits content
and a list of users to a network server. The network server
determines what devices each target user is presently operating.
The network server may convert the content into a format compatible
with a target user's device. The network server then transmits the
formatted content to each target user.
Inventors: |
Swanburg; Scott Allen;
(Duluth, GA) ; Young; Chris Allen; (Roswell,
GA) ; Okada; Andre Gen; (Seattle, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MOAZZAM & ASSOCIATES, LLC;MATTERS FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS II, LLC
7601 LEWINSVILLE ROAD, SUITE 304
MCLEAN
VA
22102
US
|
Assignee: |
Cingular Wireless II, LLC
|
Family ID: |
39326066 |
Appl. No.: |
11/545592 |
Filed: |
October 11, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
709/223 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 67/24 20130101;
H04L 67/2823 20130101; H04L 67/303 20130101; H04L 51/066
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/223 |
International
Class: |
G06F 15/173 20060101
G06F015/173 |
Claims
1. A system for delivering content to a plurality of users
comprising a plurality of components stored in a computer-readable
medium, the components comprising: a network contact list component
capable of storing a list of users and corresponding user
information; a reception component capable of receiving a
transmission from a first device, the transmission comprising
content and a set of users to whom the content should be delivered;
and a transmission component capable of transmitting said content
to said user based on said user information stored in the contact
list component.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of components are
stored in at least one of a network server and a mobile device.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein said user information comprises
at least one of location information, presence information, device
information, or availability information.
4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a content formatting
component capable of obtaining said content and said set of users
from said reception component, determining the current location and
current device of each of said users in said set of users, and
translating said content, for each user in said set of users, into
a plurality of formatted content capable of being viewed by a
particular viewer in said set of users; and wherein said
transmission component transmits said formatted content to each
user in said set of users for whom that formatted content was
created.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said users in
said set of users is using a mobile device.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said users in
said set of users is using a personal computer or internet protocol
enabled entertainment device.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission component
transmits information to the first device based on user information
stored in said network contact list component.
8. A system having a plurality of components stored in a computer
readable medium, the components comprising: a contact list
component capable of storing a list of users and corresponding
information about each user, said information comprising at least
one of current location, current presence, current device, or
current availability; an update component capable of receiving
updated information and updating said contact list component with
said updated information; an update transmission component capable
of transmitting updated information to said update component.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the contact list component and
the update component are stored on at least one network server.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein the update transmission
component is stored in a device owned by a user.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the update transmission
component transmits updated information when the user performs at
least one of using a new device, moving to a new location, or
changing availability status.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein the update transmission
component transmits updated device and location automatically after
a fixed interval.
13. The system of claim 10, wherein the device is a mobile
device.
14. The system of claim 10, wherein the transmission component
determines the optimal way to transmit said content to each of said
plurality of users based on said corresponding information.
15. A method for transmitting content to a plurality of users,
comprising the steps of: a first user selecting content to
distribute and a plurality of users to whom the content should be
distributed; determining, for each of said plurality of users, at
least one of the user's current device, location, or availability;
converting, for each of said users, the content into a plurality of
formatted content, each of which is capable of being viewed by one
of the plurality of users based on at least one of said user's
current device, location, presence, or availability; and
transmitting the particularly formatted content translated for each
user in said plurality of users to said user.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the determining, translating,
and transmitting steps are performed by at least one network
server.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of
transmitting the content and the at least one of the user's current
device, current location, current presence, or current availability
from said first user's device to one of said at least one network
servers.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the determining step is
performed by consulting a network contact list.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of users use one
or more of a mobile device, a personal computer, and an internet
protocol enabled entertainment device.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein said first user uses one or
more of a mobile device, a personal computer, and an internet
protocol enabled entertainment device.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to content delivery. More
particularly, the present invention relates to content delivery
from one user to one or more users in one or more networks.
[0003] 2. Background of the Invention
[0004] The advent of the electronic era has brought people closer
together in many ways. Thanks to mobile technology, people can
remain in touch regardless of where they are. A group of friends
can use mobile technology to quickly plan and arrange a night out
the afternoon before. Someone who is lost or needs direction can
easily communicate with others to find her way. Parents can use
mobile telephones to keep tabs on their children. If an afternoon
activity is cancelled or the school day shortened due to inclement
weather, a child can place a call to her parents and make alternate
arrangements so that the child is not stuck at school.
[0005] Mobile technology has provided other ways for people to
interact with one another. Users may send short text messages to
keep their friends and family informed of events without tying up a
phone line. Many mobile phones now come equipped with cameras so
that users can take a snapshot of an important landmark or amusing
scene and forward copies to friends and family.
[0006] However, several obstacles remain for the goal of complete
interaction, especially in the area of content delivery. Devices
may use incompatible formats. If two friends, Joe and Rachel, use
two incompatible devices, Joe cannot send content to Rachel because
Rachel's device cannot read it. Joe must first convert the content
to a compatible format before sending the content to Rachel.
Converting the content to a different format may not be simple, and
may require tools that Joe does not have. Even if Joe and Rachel
have compatible devices, Joe may not be able to determine if Rachel
is available to receive content. Many current devices have no way
for users to determine if others are available to receive
content.
[0007] For example, a new father, whose daughter just took her
first steps, wants to send a video of the important milestone to
his sister, his brother, and his parents. Such a task is difficult
using present technology. The sister may be using her mobile phone
at the time, while his brother may be watching television using an
internet protocol entertainment device, such as a digital video
recorder. His parents may be currently accessing the Internet
through their personal computer. However, the father has no way of
knowing this without asking each relative first. Once the father
figures out where his family members are, he can send the video to
them. However, each family member must receive the video in a
different format, since each family member is using a different
device. The father could send a low-resolution video capable of
being received by his sister's mobile phone to each of his family
members, but then his brother and his parents would suffer from a
sub-standard experience. The devices his brother and parents are
using are capable of playing the video back at a higher quality
than his sister's mobile phone. If the father wants to take
advantage of the higher quality, he would have to first convert the
video into three separate formats, one for his sister, one for his
brother, and one for his parents. Once he does this, the father
must send the content, one at a time, to each of his family
members. As a result, what should be a simple procedure, sending a
video of his daughter's first steps to family members, has become a
laborious and time-consuming task.
[0008] What is needed is a way for a user to send content to other
users without having to figure out how to send the content or the
optimum way to deliver the content.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present systems and methods for delivering content from
one user's device to other users' devices are inconvenient and
inefficient. The user must first determine what devices the others
are using. Then the user must convert the content into a format
that the others' devices can read, which may result in multiple
translations if each user has a different device. To address these
and similar shortcomings of conventional techniques, the present
invention eliminates the need for the user to know how to send the
content to other users. From the user's perspective, the system
"just works".
[0010] In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention is a
system for delivering content from a user to a plurality of other
users. The system includes a plurality of components. A networks
contact list component stores a list of users and corresponding
information about each user. The information may comprise location
information, presence information, device information, or
availability information. A reception component is capable of
receiving a transmission from a first device. The transmission
comprises content and a set of users to whom the content should be
delivered. A transmission component is capable of transmitting the
content to each of the other users based on said information stored
in the contact list component.
[0011] In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention is a
system for updating a network contact list. A contact list
component stores a list of users and corresponding information
about each user. The information may comprise current location,
current presence, current device, or current availability. An
update component is capable of receiving updated information and
updating the network contact list component with the updated
information. An update transmission component is capable of
transmitting updated information to the update component.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a view of a user transmitting content to a
plurality of users through a network server according to the
present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 shows components of a network server according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention working to seamlessly
transmit content from one user to a plurality of users.
[0014] FIG. 3 shows components of a network server updating a
network contact list according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 4 shows a method of updating a network contact list
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 5 shows a method of seamlessly transmitting content
from use user to a plurality of other users according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The present invention provides for a system to seamlessly
send media/content from one user to a plurality of other users
based on an intelligent collection of information such as presence,
availability and location. This information is gathered as a means
to provide a best path of communications to multiple users. The
system delivers media to one or more recipients based on this
intelligence and is dynamically updated in order to constantly
provide this intelligent path. An overview of the present invention
is shown in FIG. 1. User 100 transmits media to users 104a, 104b,
104c, and 104d through network server 102. When network server 102
receives the media from user 100, network server 102 gathers
information from a variety of sources regarding pertinent
information about the recipients such as presence, availability and
location and creates a path of communication using this
intelligence. This intelligence available in the network determines
what devices are being operated by users 104a, 104b, 104c, and 104d
and the best method to communicate to them. Server 102 then
transmits the media to the particular device that each user 104a,
104b, 104c, and 104d is using. If necessary, network server 102 may
convert the video stream into different formats optimized for each
device currently operated by users 104a, 104b, 104c, and 104d. In
this fashion, each user receives media optimized for his particular
device without the user 100 needing to figure out what device each
user 104a, 104b, 104c, and 104d is presently operating or what
format the media should be sent in and which device/path is best to
send the media to. From user 100's perspective, the system "just
works."
[0018] The present invention may be operated in a variety of
contexts and environments. Users 100, 104a, 104b, 104c, and 104d
could operate on the same network or on different networks. Users
100, 104a, 104b, 104c, and 104d could operate any type of device,
such as a mobile device (including mobile telephones and personal
digital assistants), a personal computer, or an internet protocol
enabled entertainment device. The devices could communicate with
one another and with a network using any convenient protocol. User
100 could transmit any content users 104a, 104b, 104c, and 104d.
The content could include data, music, video, photographs, or
real-time streaming video (or audio).
[0019] For example, user 100 could wish to send streaming video to
users 104a, 104b, 104c, and 104d. User 100 selects the other users
to whom he wishes to send the streaming video (in this example,
users 104a, 104b, 104c, and 104d) and transmits the video. Server
102 receives the request and determines what devices the users
104a, 104b, 104c, and 104d are presently using. Server 102
determines that user 104 is using a mobile device, users 104b and
104c are using personal computers, and user 104d is using an
internet protocol enabled digital entertainment device (such as a
digital video recorder). Server 102 then transmits the video to
user 102's mobile device, to the personal computers being used by
users 104b and 104c, and to user 104d's internet protocol enabled
digital entertainment device. This may require streaming the video
in a different format. Thus, server 102 could transmit a
low-resolution stream to user 104a suitable for reception by a
mobile device. User 104b, in contrast, could receive a
high-definition video stream, since he is using a personal computer
capable of displaying a high-definition video stream.
[0020] FIG. 2 shows a first exemplary embodiment of the present
invention in the form of server 102. Server 102 includes a number
of components. Reception component 202 receives transmissions from
users such as user 100. These transmissions include content and the
identities of the users to whom the content should be delivered. A
network contact list component 208 stores the names of users and
information about each user. A formatting component 204 receives
the content and the identities of users to whom it should be
delivered and obtains corresponding information about the users
from network contact list component 208. Using the information from
network contact list component 208, formatting component 204
determines, for each user to whom the content is to be delivered,
the format in which the content should be delivered. Formatting
component 204 then converts the content into separately formatted
content optimized for the particular device users 104a, 104b, 104c,
and 104d are operating. For example, if user 104a is using a mobile
device, formatting component 204 will convert the content into a
format suitable for reception by a mobile device. Once formatting
component 204 has converted the content into formatted content,
transmission component 206 then delivers the formatted content to
the users 104a, 104b, 104c, and 104d. Note that users 104a, 104b,
104c, and 104d will each receive differently formatted content for
the particular device each user is operating. For example, user
104a, who is operating a mobile device, may receive content
formatted for a mobile device, while user 104b, who is operating a
personal computer, will receive content formatted for a personal
computer. In addition, transmission component 206 may use the
information in network contact list component 208 to determine the
optimal way to transmit the content to each user 104a, 104b, 104c,
and 104d. For example, if user 104a is on a wireless network,
transmission component 206 may transmit the content using a
wireless protocol. If user 104b is on a data network (such as the
Internet), transmission component may transmit the content using
TCP/IP.
[0021] Network contact list component 208 stores the identities of
each user and information about each user. The identity could be in
the form of a telephone number, MSISDN, or other unique identifier.
This information may include a user's location, presence,
availability, time of day, and calendar information (the user's
schedule). Location information could refer to the city, state, or
country the user is presently in; or it could refer to whether the
user is at home, work, or school. Presence information could refer
to the user's presence on a network and which network the user is
in. Availability may refer to whether the user is or is not
available to receive content. Device information may refer to the
device the user is presently operating.
[0022] Any other information about users may also be included. For
example, network contact list component 208 could comprise the
contact list for user 100; in that case, network contact list
component 208 could also include information such as a user's
address and telephone number. If network contact list component 208
also serves as user 100's contact list, this would permit the
contact list to be accessible to user 100 wherever he is on the
network. Network contact list component 208 would comprise a
plurality of smaller contact lists for each user on the network.
However, contact list component 208 may store any type of
information about a user in any convenient fashion known in the
art.
[0023] Network contact list 208 may communicate with user 100 via
reception component 202 and transmission component 206 to provide
the user 100 with information about users 104a, 104b, 104c, 104d,
thus increasing the intelligence of the network. This communication
could be based on information about user 100 stored in network
contact list component 208. For example, user 100 might have an
8:00 AM meeting. However, due to poor traffic conditions, the user
is not able to attend the meeting on time. The user communicates
with reception component 202, which in turn communicates with
network contact list 206. Network contact list 208 retrieves
information about the other attendees and returns information about
the attendees to user 100 via transmission component 202. Network
contact list is able to retrieve the correct information about the
attendees by consulting information about the user 100b and the
world, such as the user's calendar information (meeting at 8:00 AM)
and the present time of day (such as 7:15 AM.) As the user enters
the message informing the other attendees about his situation, the
network can use the information stored in network contact list
component 208 to prompt the user 100 with potential addressees (the
other attendees) and their availability. The user 100 perceives
this as the network having greater intelligence.
[0024] In a second exemplary embodiment, shown by the dotted arrow
in FIG. 2, the reception component 202 communicates directly with
transmission component 206, bypassing formatting component 204. In
this embodiment, formatting component 204 is not present or is not
used. This embodiment may be used in situations where no formatting
of content is required. This may occur when all of the devices on
the network use a compatible format to view content, or if none of
the users to whom user 100 wishes to send content operate devices
that require converting the content to a different format. In this
embodiment, reception component 202 may obtain device information
from network contact list component 208 prior to communicating with
formatting component 204. If reception component 202 determines
that no conversion of content is required for a particular user
(possibly because that user is operating a device compatible with
user 100), reception component may deliver the content directly to
transmission component 206 for delivery.
[0025] FIG. 2 shows reception component 202, formatting component
204, transmission component 206, and network component 208 as part
of one network server 102. However, the components may be arranged
in any configuration across any number of network servers. For
example, network contact list component 208 could be stored on a
first network server, formatting component 204 could be stored on a
second network server, and reception and transmission components
202 and 206 could be stored on a third network server.
[0026] Multiple components could also be stored on multiple servers
in a distributed network to reduce the load on individual
servers.
[0027] FIG. 3 shows another aspect of the present invention. In
order to determine the best method of transmitting content from
user 100 to users 104a, 104b, 104c, and 104d, server 102 needs to
have updated information about each user 104a, 104b, 104c, and
104d. If server 102 does not have updated information about the
users, the content will not be delivered to users 104a, 104b, 104c,
and 104d properly.
[0028] To this end, server 102 contains update component 302 in
addition to network contact list component 208. For the sake of
simplicity, FIG. 3 does not show any other components, such as
reception component 202, formatting component 204, or transmission
component 206. However, these components may also be present in
server 102.
[0029] Update component 302 receives updated information from users
104a, 104b, 104c, and 104d. The updated information could be any
information stored in network contact list component 208. FIG. 3
shows three examples of information update component may receive
from users 104a, 104b, 104c, 104d: presence information, location
information, or availability information. Presence information
relates to the devices known to be capable of receiving media, as
well as the type (format) of media those devices are capable of
receiving. Availability information includes the devices known to
be active or which the user is known to have access to. Location
information refers to the location of the user and the location of
the user's devices. The components of server 102 can also derive
one or more of this information from other information received
from the users. The updated information may also include other
types of information, such as the time of day or calendar
information referring to a user's schedule. Upon receiving updated
information from users 104a, 104b, 104c, or 104d, update component
302 updates the corresponding information in network contact list
component 208.
[0030] Update component 302 may receive updated information from
users 104a, 104b, 104c, and 104d in a variety of ways. Update
component 302 could receive updated information whenever a user
104a begins to use a particular device or ceases operation of a
device. Thus, if user 104a begins using a mobile device, the mobile
device transmits updated information informing update component 302
that user 104a is now using his mobile device. Similarly, once user
104a turns his mobile device off or the device becomes idle, the
mobile device transmits updated information to update component 302
informing the update component that the user has stopped using the
mobile device. If update component 302 has not received information
that user 104a has begun using another device, update component 302
could conclude that user 104a is unavailable and can update network
contact list component 208 accordingly.
[0031] In another variation, update component 302 could receive
updated information on a fixed schedule. Devices could transmit
updated information to update component 302 every ten or fifteen
minutes, or on any other schedule. Users 104a, 104b, 104c, and 104d
could also transmit updated information manually. A user 104b
could, for example, enter a command into her current device
informing the device that she is away and not available to receive
content. The device transmits this updated information to update
component 302. Update component 302 then updates network contact
list component 208 with the information that user 104b is away and
not available to receive content. These techniques, other
techniques, or a combination of techniques known in the art could
be used to transmit updated information to update component
302.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 3, update component 302 and network contact
list component 208 are separate components. However, these
components may also comprise sub-components of one larger
component. Similarly, FIG. 3 shows update component 302 and network
contact list component 208 as included within one network server.
The components may also be spread across multiple network servers.
Any configuration is possible depending on the particular network
in which the present invention is deployed.
[0033] FIGS. 4 and 5 show examples of how the present invention
operates. FIG. 4 shows an example of updating information on the
network server 102. In step 402, user 104 is using an
internet-protocol enabled entertainment device at home. This could
be an "IPTV" device capable of receiving broadcasts over the
internet. Later, in step 404, user 104 turns off the entertainment
device and turns on his mobile device. In step 406, the mobile
device transmits updated information to server 102, which updates
network contact list 208.
[0034] FIG. 5 shows a method for a user to send content to other
users through the present invention. In step 502, user 100 decides
to send streaming video to his family, users 104a, 104b, 104c, and
104d. User 100 does not know where his family members are or what
devices they are presently operating. With the present invention,
user 100 does not need to know this information; the present
invention will figure it out for him. User 100 selects "send all"
to his family group list, comprising users 104a, 104b, 104c, and
104d. The mobile device sends the streaming video, along with
information identifying users 104a, 104b, 104c, and 104d.
[0035] Network server 102 receives the streaming video and
identifying information in step 504. The network server 102
consults network contact list component 208 and retrieves
information about users 104a, 104b, 104c, and 104d. In this case,
network server 102 determines that user 104a is using a mobile
device, user 104b is using a personal computer, user 104c is using
an internet protocol enabled entertainment device, and user 104d is
not available.
[0036] After network server 102 retrieves the information about
users 104a, 104b, 104c, and 104d, in step 506, server 102 uses the
information to determines the best method to transmit the video to
the respective users. The best method may be a particular route
through the network. The best method could also be the particular
format for the content. Ultimately, the best method is the method
that provides the greatest likelihood that each user 104a, 104b,
104c, 104d will receive the content properly. If necessary, server
102 translates the streaming video into a format compatible with
the various devices being operated by users 104a, 104b, 104c, and
104d. This may require no translation for user 104a, since user
104a is also using a mobile device. Users 104b and 104c, however,
will each receive different formats of the content suitable for a
personal computer and an internet protocol enabled entertainment
device, respectively.
[0037] Finally, in step 508, network server 102 transmits the video
stream to users 104a, 104b, and 104c. Each user receives the
respective formatted content formatted in step 504. In this
fashion, users 104a, 104b, and 104c receive content from user 100
without user 100 having to figure out what devices users 104a,
104b, 104c, and 104d are presently operating or how to transmit the
content to those users. This ease of use enhances user 100's
network experience and reduces frustration; the process "just
works" from the user's perspective.
[0038] In the example given above, user 104d is not available. In
this case network server 102 may take a number of actions. Server
102 could notify user 100 that user 104d is not available and not
transmit the streaming video to user 104d. Server 102 could also
store a copy of the streaming video, either in a network server or
on a users local storage device and transmit the video to user 104d
(or notify user 104d of the video) when user 104d becomes
available.
[0039] The foregoing disclosure of the exemplary embodiments of the
present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration
and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit
the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many variations and
modifications of the embodiments described herein will be apparent
to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above
disclosure. The scope of the invention is to be defined only by the
claims appended hereto, and by their equivalents.
[0040] Further, in describing representative embodiments of the
present invention, the specification may have presented the method
and/or process of the present invention as a particular sequence of
steps. However, to the extent that the method or process does not
rely on the particular order of steps set forth herein, the method
or process should not be limited to the particular sequence of
steps described. As one of ordinary skill in the art would
appreciate, other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore,
the particular order of the steps set forth in the specification
should not be construed as limitations on the claims. In addition,
the claims directed to the method and/or process of the present
invention should not be limited to the performance of their steps
in the order written, and one skilled in the art can readily
appreciate that the sequences may be varied and still remain within
the spirit and scope of the present invention.
* * * * *